On June 19, 1864, the Confederate cruiser Alabama and the USS Kearsarge faced off in the English Channel outside the French port of Cherbourg. About an hour after the Alabama fired the first shot, it began to sink, and its crew was forced to wave the white flag of surrender. Working with personal papers and diaries and contemporary reports, historian William Marvel interweaves the stories of these two celebrated Civil War warships, from their construction to their climactic encounter off Cherbourg. Just as importantly, he illuminates the day-to-day experiences of their crews, from the cabin boys to the officers.

About the Author
William Marvel's many books include the award-winning Andersonville: The Last Depot and The Alabama and the Kearsarge: The Sailor's Civil War. He lives in South Conway, New Hampshire.

Reviews
"The story flows as smoothly as a ship scudding along with a pleasant breeze, and those who love the Civil War at sea will enjoy their cruise with William Marvel's book." - Journal of American History"



Book Information
ISBN 9780807858158
Author William Marvel
Format Paperback
Page Count 348
Imprint The University of North Carolina Press
Publisher The University of North Carolina Press
Weight(grams) 456g